Anyone Else Got A Giant Pimple Today?

Ugggh, this week is not off to a good start. One of a few reasons: I have an enormous, throbby new friend located on the edge of my lower lip--quite possibly the most painful and unattractive location for a blemish (although tip-of-the-nose would come in a close second). It's so painful that I'd almost fantasize about calling in "sick" to my lunch appointment, except that it's with my fellow Glamour beauty bloggers, and I'm sure they'll understand my plight (and probably even have some great new anti-zit products to recommend).

Here's what's helping get me through this difficult time.

My secret pimple-fighting weapons.

1. Sulfur drying cream. I like sulfur spot treatments better than the benzoyl-peroxide or salicylic-acid kind because they smell bad and burn a little--aka, they just seem so much more potent. Plus, the benzoyl works better when you use it consistently, while sulfur works just as well when used once the skin disaster strikes. Right now I'm using a fantastic new sulfur treatment from Repechage, but Sonya Dakar and Mario Badescu also make famously effective ones.

2. The Zeno. My boyfriend makes fun of me for using this religiously 3x/day when I have a big pimple, saying it obviously isn't helping because the pimple is still getting redder and so big that he's going to declare it our third roommate (thanks!). But I like how soothing the heat feels, and plus I feel like I am doing something rather than just sitting around waiting for the bump to run its course. The heat has to help with swelling in theory, right?

3. Eye drops. A must-use before leaving the apartment with a very red pimple. I cotton-swab some on to the blemish after washing my face to reduce its glaring color. I wait a minute or so before applying oil-free moisturizer, and then concealer.

4. The best concealer and powder. Not just any will do. I like Cargo OneBase because it never, ever goes crusty, even when your blemish is, and the color blends very naturally. I apply just a dot in the center of the blemish and then use a pointy, tiny brush to gently dab the color out toward the edges. Then I set it with the most effective, fine-milled face powder I've ever tried: Make Up Forever HD Powder. This stuff is serious; it'll suck all the oil off your face if you use too much, so be careful. But it will also set your concealer so it's like cement. I use a rounded powder brush to dust it on.